Dewey's Read-a-thon Update Post

Time for another 24 Hours read-a-thon, this time hosted by 24hourreadathon.com in memory of Dewey.

The Opening Meme - HOUR ONE

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
I am Lancashire in the UK, it's cold here today, perfect day to stay in and read.

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? 
I have been reading The Passage by Justin Cronin, and I have about 300 pages left to go, so I really want to see what happens, I am loving it!

3) What snack are you most looking forward to? I have a little bag of peanuts and some dried fruit. I don't really like reading while eating, and actually I tend to forget about eating sometimes, which is fine by me as it keeps the kgs away.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself. 
My cute ginger dog will be keeping me company during the readathon, and will more than likely join in with eating the snacks. I also have a fluffy brown cosy blanket and a large auburn coloured cushion that I am currently snuggled up with. Altogether we are a Vision in Brown.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon what is one thing you would do differently today? If it's your first what are you most looking forward to?
This is my first read-a-thon. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone is doing on Twitter, but also getting a reason to use my blog. I hardly ever update it and I really want to start. I am interested in seeing what everyone is reading, and taking part in the challenges too. When will I do any reading?!?!

Hour one progress: Started with The Passage, managed to read about 15 pages, not a great start!


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HOUR TWO: Book Tunes hosted by rivercityreading

Choose a song that best suits the book you are reading so far, and explain why.

I am reading The Passage by Justin Cronin and I chose Muse "Starlight" as the song that best fits the story so far. Without giving too much away, the community in this book NEED to keep all the lights on at all times, so the people that can remember the time when they didn't need to do this really miss seeing the stars in the sky. The mood of the song is also very fitting and some of the words also really fit the plot too. "I don't know if it's worth it anymore" "Let's conspire to ignite all the souls that would die just to feel alive". If you've read this book, you will know what I am talking about!

Muse "Starlight"

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HOUR 4: Book spine poetry hosted by capriciousreader

Select a number of books and make a poem out of them. I really enjoyed this task. All pretty cool books as well, might I add :)  My poem:

1984 The Year of the Flood,
The remains of the day,
After you'd gone.

*weep*

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Hour 12: Mid-event survey 

1. How are you feeling? Sleepy?
It's 12.20am where I am and I am in bed. I hope to read some more but today has been very long, particularly in my personal life. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

2. What have you finished reading?
Nothing! I am reading a huge book so if I manage to just finish that by the time the challenge is over I will be happy

3. What is your favourite read so far? 
I have only been reading The Passage so far, but I have just opened The Song of Achilles and that looks really good. I am trying not to care that I haven't finished anything yet!

4. What about your favourite snacks?
Peanuts, dry roasted! I only got a small bag, I wish I had got a bigger one, they were lovely.

5. Have you found any new blogs?
No but i've found some new Twitter users @marenfuga @momsnotall I am going to scout out more blogs tomorrow.

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HOUR 13. Best of your Reading Year hosted by lisasworldofbooks

BEST SCI-FI BOOK:

READY PLAYER ONE by ERNST CLINE

This book was such fun to read, I couldn't put it down once I had started. I really loved how you could imagine this actually happening, and how in some respects it could already be starting. I have recommended this book to several people over the course of this year and everyone I know has raved about it afterwards. A winner.

BEST AUTHOR 

JEFFREY EUGENIDES 

This year I have read all of Eugenides work; Middlesex (in my top three books of all time), The Virgin Suicides, The Marriage Plot and an anthology he edited called My Mistresses Sparrow is Dead. I have really liked his writing style and he always tackles some difficult topics with enormous grace and understanding. I have really enjoyed watching some interviews on youtube, he seems like a very thoughtful and inspiring person. 

BEST FANTASY BOOK

THE NAME OF THE WIND by PATRICK ROTHFUSS

This book was a revelation to me. Rothfuss really concentrated on character development and did a cracking job with Kvothe, the main character. A story within a story, this book keeps your turning thorough all 1000 pages quickly! I am currently reading the second in the series, The Wise Man's Fear, but I am taking a break because I don't want it to end, and the next book has no release date yet!

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READING UPDATE - The Passage is proving to be a LONG read, I don't seem to be getting anywhere. I read 120 pages of it and felt like I was reading all day. Needed to take a break (sleep) but before I did I read 103 pages of The Song of Achilles. I am going to finish that book today. 

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HOUR 19 - SHOW IT OFF hosted by deadbookdarling

                                     

Show a book from your library that you are extremely proud of - I chose to show my Penguin Clothbound edition of Pride and Prejudice. This book stirs up emotions because my daughter chose to buy me this with her first pay from a saturday job when she was 15. I was so proud of her, firstly for having a job and still getting great grades and secondly for being selfless and choosing to spend her money on me. Also, Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourites and these clothbound editions are just gorgeous.

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HOUR 24 - Survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? I actually struggled with this readathon. It seemed like every time I sat down to read I needed to get up and go and do something else. Hour  was difficult because it was saturday night and all my tv shows are on!

2. Can you name a few high interest books that could keep a Reader engaged for next year? It depends what kind of fiction you like, but some page turners that I recommend are Wool by Hugh Howey, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.

3. Do you have any suggestions of how to improve the read-a-thon for next year? When the challenges are about "guess the book from the picture" I think comments should be hidden until the end of the challenge, too much temptation to cheat, I didn't take part in one challenge because of seeing a lot of the answers.

4. What did you think worked really well? I was so impressed with the organisation! I loved that the challenges were posted promptly, you could really tell how much work had gone into the hourly posts, a massive pat on the back to everyone concerned!

5. How many books did you read? NONE! I managed to get through 200 pages of The Passage, which was good going for me, and I read 120 pages of The Song of Achilles. So, I guess that would be an average sized book normally. Can you tell I am feeling defensive? Some people have read A LOT of books!

6. What were the names of the books you read? The Passage by Justin Cronin and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

7. Which book did you enjoy most? The Passage is a huge book so I have already invested a lot of time, so I am going to say that, because the story is just mind blowing. I can tell I am going to like both of them though.

8. Which did you enjoy least? I am enjoying them both, don't make me choose!

9. Do you have any advice for next year's cheerleaders? No, they did a great job, and were a lovely touch. Also very helpful when I needed some advice. Thanks!

10. Will you participate again? YES! This was so much fun! I think I would take part again as a reader, although you never know (I am not a confident blogger yet)